Who should receive the most blame for the Kneelgate?

All the main characters involved in one of the worst plays in Cowboys history were accountable for their role in the bone-headed moment, but there are degrees of blame for the decision to not have Tony Romo take a knee to end the first half.

4. Tashard Choice: While it’s admirable he tried to make something out of nothing, there’s no forgiving Choice for not making ball security his No. 1 priority after catching the ill-advised pass from Tony Romo. His first NFL fumble was returned 32 yards by DeAngelo Hall for a 10-0 Redskins lead.

3. Tony Romo: He would have been guilty of insubordination had he taken a knee on his own, but his decision to flip the ball to Choice after protection broke down was flat-out wrong. Romo should have taken the sack or thrown the ball away.

2. Wade Phillips: Simply put, he was asleep at the switch. Yes, Phillips runs the defense and Jason Garrett runs the offense, but it’s the head coach’s responsibility to handle clock management decisions.

1. Jason Garrett: It all started with the Princeton graduate. If he just orders Romo to take a knee, the Cowboys likely go on to win the game. For Garrett, it was the latest in a string of bad decisions and sent his approval rating among fans plumeting to an all-time low.